Basics of Religious Education — Page 266
266 266 266 266 266 B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION Hadrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad ra was the second successor of the Promised Messiah as. He was a distinguished Khalifa because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah as received a Divine sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty days’ prayers at Hoshiarpur (India). God Al- mighty told him that a pure son (Muslih Mau`ood) would be born to him within a period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy re- garding Muslih Mau`ood on February 20, 1886. In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the promised son, was born to the Promised Messiah as on January 12, 1889 at Qadian. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad. The prophecy about Muslih Mau`ood had also specified some special qualities of the promised son. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him. Let us now study brief a short account of his life and see how magnificently this grand prophecy was fulfilled in the person of Hadrat Mirza Bashiruddin, Khalifatul Masih-II ra. He got his primary education in a school of Qadian and then in the Ta`leemul Islam School when it started in 1898. He could not do well in his studies due to his persistent ill- health. His academic career came to an end in March 1905, when he failed in the Matriculation (Grade 10) examination. About two years before this, in October 1903, he had married Sayyidah Mahmooda Begum Sahiba (Hadrat Umm-e-Nasir ra ). He started learning the translation of the Holy Qur’an and the Ahadith from Hadrat Maulana Nooruddin ra. Moreover, he began his independent study of religion, history, literature and various other subjects. He developed into a great scholar and had mastery over many subjects. His Birth; A Splendid Sign of God (January 12, 1889) Hadr Hadr Hadr Hadr Hadra a a a at Mirza Bashir t Mirza Bashir t Mirza Bashir t Mirza Bashir t Mirza Bashirud ud ud ud uddin din din din din Mahmood Ahmad Mahmood Ahmad Mahmood Ahmad Mahmood Ahmad Mahmood Ahmad ra ra ra ra ra Khalifatul Masih II Period of Khilafat: March 14, 1914 to November 8, 1965 Education and Early Years P P P P P ROMISED ROMISED ROMISED ROMISED ROMISED M M M M M ESSIAH ESSIAH ESSIAH ESSIAH ESSIAH AS AS AS AS AS A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D S S S S S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S — K — K — K — K — K HALIF HALIF HALIF HALIF HALIFA A A A AT U L T U L T U L T U L T U L M M M M M A S I H A S I H A S I H A S I H A S I H II II II II II 7. 4 7. 4 7. 4 7. 4 7. 4